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A phono-syntactic conspiracy is proposed to account for a recent language change in spoken Beijing Mandarin Chinese, which involves the loss of the general classifier through sound erosion caused by frequency of usage in discourse. The result of the change is a classifier-free numeral NP yi35+N ‘one+noun’, in which the tone of the numeral is frozen because it no longer follows Mandarin tone sandhi rules. Further, the frozen tone on the numeral has assumed a syntactic function as an indicator of a specific NP pattern in the language. Results of an experimental study demonstrate that the newly developed syntactic tone has its impact on native Mandarin speakers in their processing of written discourse as well. The study promotes the view that language changes may not always be conditioned by cognitive pressure. Instead, it can be triggered by everyday language usage. The study proposes to take discourse analysis as an important or even fundamental means for the study of human language.

Classifier loss and frozen tone in spoken Beijing Mandarin: the yi + ge phono-syntactic conspiracy